Ferrari SF-25 at Monza: analyzing abrupt throttle and rear-end issues | F1 Italian Grand Prix. Ferrari’s SF-25 shows high-speed efficiency but struggles in corners at Monza.

The Monza qualifying session confirmed a trend for Ferrari already visible during practice: the choice of an ultra-low downforce setup, prioritizing top speed on the long straights over stability through the few but crucial fast corners of the Italian track. Charles Leclerc finished the session in fourth position, +0.215s behind pole-sitter Max Verstappen, with Lewis Hamilton a further three tenths back.

Ferrari’s limits hold Charles Leclerc back

During FP1, the SF-25 appeared balanced but imperfect, showing slight but troublesome understeer, especially through the two Lesmo corners and at the entry of the Variante Ascari. Progressive setup adjustments between practice sessions helped the car become more neutral, improving grip and traction at low speeds. An interesting point is worth highlighting.

Leclerc’s final lap in FP3 offered a glimpse of the potential advantage of a tow on the main straight: roughly two-tenths, enough to secure a front-row spot. Telemetry highlights these details clearly: in the first chicane, Charles carried 2 km/h more than Verstappen and was able to brake slightly later. However, he lost time at the chicane exit, oversteering on the inside curb, causing the Modenese car to become unsettled, costing him half a tenth compared to the Red Bull four-time world champion.

The same situation repeated at the Variante della Roggia: compared to Max, the Ferrari driver attacked the curb more aggressively. Max Verstappen, on the other hand, used his precise front end to navigate it smoothly, maintaining a more consistent, progressive, and composed pace. This corner alone cost Charles another tenth.

Despite practice observations, the Ferrari proved very effective through the two Lesmo corners, where Charles recovered nearly all the gap lost at Roggia. The most critical point, however, was Variante Ascari: entry understeer, compounded by aggressive braking, forced Leclerc to delay throttle application. Consequently, the SF-25 lost ground compared to Verstappen’s RB21, which handled the consecutive high-speed direction changes with ease. In this section, the Red Bull carried 3 km/h more through the corners, gaining another tenth.

At the Parabolica, the low-downforce SF-25 also caused Charles Leclerc to hesitate with acceleration, preventing smooth full-throttle application after turning. He was forced to lift slightly to stabilize the car, losing more milliseconds. Nevertheless, Charles gave his maximum effort to extract every bit of performance from the Italian car, remaining personally satisfied despite not improving his time in the second Q3 run.

Max Verstappen capitalizes on Ferrari’s weaknesses

Telemetry comparison highlights traction out of corners. The SF-25 efficiently transfers power at low speeds but accelerates more abruptly than the RB21, producing greater instability and more frequent wheelspin. Verstappen, in contrast, accelerates progressively and linearly without adjusting his trajectory.

This, combined with superior rear-end control through medium- to high-speed corners, represents Red Bull’s key advantage. In summary, the Leclerc–Verstappen telemetry comparison confirms Ferrari’s weaknesses: fast on the straights and traction, but Red Bull is more balanced and effective in fast corners. Charles Leclerc’s fourth place is just two-tenths off pole.

Despite these limitations, the SF-25 remains competitive for at least a podium fight. With such low downforce and tires prone to leaving the optimal window, race pace management will be crucial to challenge McLaren and Red Bull. Nevertheless, Leclerc shows no sign of giving up and will push to cross the finish line ahead of his rivals.